NORFOLK, Va. - The Old Dominion University wrestling team moved up to No. 19 in this week's NWCA/USA Today Division I Coaches Poll, released Tuesday.

"We are pleased to crack the Top 20 for the first time this season," said ODU head coach Steve Martin. "We are anxiously awaiting each competition as our team is relatively young with mostly underclassmen and we will only improve as the season goes on!"

The Monarchs are also ranked in two other polls, No. 23 by Intermat and No. 24 by Win Magazine.

Junior James Nicholson once again led ODU in the individual rankings, placing No. 5 at 125-pounds in both listings. Nicholson's only action since a victory at Wisconsin was a narrow 7-5 defeat in an exhibition against No. 4 Zach Sanders of Minnesota at the NWCA All-Star Classic.

Nicholson led 5-3 late in the third period, but a reversal and a near fall with only 25 seconds remaining resulted in the Saunders victory.

Kyle Hutter stayed put at No. 16 in the 133-pound Intermat rankings, but moved up to No. 13 according to WIN. Senior Chris Brown is now No. 10 at 165-pounds.

Coming off a fourth-place finish at the Kaufman/Brand Open, Joe Budi remains ranked at No. 17 in the 184-pound weight class according to Intermat. Senior Jesse Strawn drops one spot to No. 9 at 197-pounds.

The Monarchs will be back in action this weekend, traveling to Lock Haven, Pa. for the Mat Town Open. Action is set to get underway Saturday morning.